Coaster fan

ABSTRACT

A personal fan generally comprises a source of electrical power such as, for example a power supply unit and a fan motor supported by an interposed arm. Where the fan motor has one or more blades that propel air towards the user. A battery housing that supports a cup or mug situated above it that serve as a beverage holder or holds snacks. The battery housing attached to an on and off switch that interrupts the fan&#39;s operation. The handle on the mug that may serve as a battery compartment and may stabilize the fan motor situated on the opposite side.

This application is based on Provisional Patent Application 61/575,775filed on Aug. 29, 2011 the priority is as follows:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Personal fans for use at sporting events and the like have been widelyimplemented. In at least one form, such fans have been integrated withdrink holders and/or cups or mugs. Unfortunately, such implementationshave failed to consider the safety of the user. To this end, it is aspecific object of the present invention to improve over the personalfans in the prior art by providing a personal fan having a safe distant,strategically placed fan for the purpose of preventing eye or otherinjuries while the user enjoys the drink from the cup or mug to whichthe personal fan is permanently attached. My previous invention, U.S.Pat. No. 6,454,539 is based on the same principle of providing comfortand safety with the difference being the affixed fan on the mug.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the foregoing objects, the present invention—apersonal fan—generally comprises a source of electrical power such as,for example a power supply unit and a fan motor with one or more bladesdependently supported by an interposed arm that is part of the batterycompartment. Present invention further comprises a switch or switchesfor providing novel functionality to the cup/mug situated above it whichmay serve as a beverage holder. The motor housing which may take on anyform including sporting balls, tires, and any other object, has a gearthat allows the tilting of the fan to provide an airflow towards theuser. The compartment above the battery compartment allows for a radio;or may be used as a reservoir for water which will allow the user to usea mist for cooling down. The trigger that allows for the dispensing ofthe water mist is situated alongside the battery compartment. Finally,may other features, objects and advantages of the present invention willbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts, especiallyin light of the foregoing discussions and the following drawings,exemplary detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Although the scope of the present invention is much broader than anyparticular embodiment, a detailed description of the preferredembodiment follows together with illustrative figures, wherein likereference numerals refer to like components, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of the coaster personal fan ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of thecoaster personal fan of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a second preferred embodiment of the personal fan of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 show, in a partially cut away view, additional details of thecoaster personal fan of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the first preferred embodiment of the coasterpersonal fan of FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 shows a second preferred embodiment of the coaster personal fanof the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a button view of the first preferred embodiment of thecoaster personal fan of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 shows a third preferred embodiment of the coaster personal fan ofthe present invention;

FIG. 9 shows a fourth preferred embodiment of the coaster personal fanof the present invention;

FIG. 10 shows a coaster personal fan assembly of the coaster personalfan of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize manyalternative embodiments, especially in light of the illustrationsprovided herein, this detailed description is exemplary of the preferredembodiment of the present invention, the scope of which is limited onlyby the claims appended hereto.

Referring now to the figures, and FIG. 1 in particular, the preferredembodiment of the present invention—a personal fan 10—is shown togenerally comprise a source of electrical power such as, for example apower supply unit 11 and a fan motor 21 with one or more blades 23dependently supported by an interposed arm 16 also shown is theadaptability of the beverage holding party cup 33 in the cup 29 to holda beverage holding party cup 33. As particularly shown in the embodimentof FIG. 10, the attachable threaded mug 34 may screw onto the cup 29through the cup threads 36 onto the threaded mug threads 35.

As particularly shown in the embodiment of FIG. 7, the power supply unit11 is preferably adapted to house one or more conventional batteries 12within a conventional battery compartment 13. As also shown in thevarious figures, the power supply unit 11 is preferably provided with anon-off switch 15. Additionally, those of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize the substantially equivalent substitutions that may be madefor conventional batteries such as, for example, solar cells. As shownin the embodiment of FIG. 7 a substantially water-tight access door 14is provided over the battery compartment 13 for preventing the ingressof fluids to the battery compartment 13. In this manner, the operatormay make use of the personal fan 10 without fear of spilling liquidsfrom within the cup 29 or mug 27 into the electrical components of thepower supply unit 11. As also shown in FIGS. 1, 5, 8 and 10 the powersupply unit 11 is supplied with a push button switch 20.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention an insulatedsleeve 26 may be provided for removable affixation over cup 29 or mug 27or may be provided integral with a cup 29 or mug 27. In this alternativeembodiment, the cup 29 or mug 27 may be easily

provided with an integral handle 28, as shown in FIGS. 1, 8, and 10,that may also comprise an internal battery compartment. In this case,the power supply unit 11 may be integrated within the handle 28 of thepersonal fan 10. A push button switch 20 may also be located on thehandle 28. As particularly shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 5, theribs 32 within the cup 25 are provided for the secure holding ofbeverage cans 30 using an insulated sleeve 26 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9.

As shown in the various figures, the fan motor 21 is preferably housedin a motor housing 24 dependently supported upon the interposed arm 16as shown in FIG. 6, the spherical motor housing 24 may be modified torepresent a golf ball, baseball or any similarly shaped sport ball. InFIG. 4, the interposed arm 16 incorporates two pieces, whereby a firstpiece has a motor housing with the teeth of a gear that are designed toinsert and hold on to the second piece of the interposed arm in one endand the other end of the hollow shaft 18 thereby preventingdisconnection. As shown in the various figures, one or more blades 23are operably provided with the fan motor 21 through a prop spinner 22,which may be removable for compact storage of the personal fan 10.Likewise, the blades 23 may be affixed to the prop spinner 22. in thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, the motor casing 19affixed to the interposed arm 16, is attached to the power supply unit11 through a pivotal attachment 17. In this manner, the blades 23 of thepersonal fan 10 may be easily directed as desired by the operator asshown in FIGS. 3 and 9. The motor casing 19 attached to the interposedarm 16 also preferably comprises a hollow shaft 18 thereafter in orderto conveniently an inconspicuously contain the necessary wiring betweenthe power supply 11 and fan motor 21. As will be recognized by those ofordinary skill in the art, the motor housing 19 may also be in sphericalform 24 or formed in various other sports ball shapes such as abaseball, basketball, tennis, golf, billiards, volleyball, as shown inparticularly in FIG. 6. The motor casing 19 may also be formed invarious other shapes such as a tire, football, shoe, helmet and iswithout limits in forms. Because it is envisioned that the presentinvention may find wide spread applicability in the advertisement ofrefreshment beverages, those of ordinary skill in the art will alsorecognize that the motor casing 19 and/or the power supply unit 11 maybe shaped and provided with ornamentation reflective of a particularbeverage product such as, for example, a beverage can 30

For operation of the present invention, with the distant placement ofthe fan motor 21, the user may freely drink from the cup 29 or mug 27without fear of impact from the blades 23. Additionally, in thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, the blades 23 comprise afoam, flexible rubber or other polymeric material as a further safetyfeature. As will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, alight or diodes may also be activated at the time the fan 10 isoperating.

While those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that manymaterials of construction may be utilized for the implementation of thepresent invention, it is preferable that a light weight and inexpensivematerial be utilized in order that the personal fan 10 may bedistributed as widely as possible. To this end, a plastics or likematerial is preferred. It is also preferred that all electricalcomponents of the present invention be housed in a substantially fluidimpervious manner, thereby preventing damage to the personal fan 10 orbattery compartment 13 consequently extending its useful product life.As a result weatherproof and/or water-tight switches should be usedwhere possible. While the foregoing description is exemplary of thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, those of ordinary skillin the relevant arts will recognize the many variations, alterations,modifications, substitutions and the like as are readily possible,especially in light of this description, the accompanying drawings andclaims drawn thereto. For example, the adjustable arm 31 may betelescopically extendable in order for use with a wide variety of cup ormug sizes. The arm may also be made of thick wire that is pliable andcan be hollow and maintain the necessary wiring from the power supply tothe fan motor. Likewise, the personal fan 10 may be implemented with anadditional switch for reversing the operation of the fan motor 31, whichis especially desirable when used in close proximity to the person. Thecup or mug may take different designs and may have an adaptable lid forkeeping pollutants out of their cups or mugs or for sipping. In anycase, because the scope of the present invention is much broader thanany particular embodiment, the foregoing detailed description should notbe construed as a limitation of the scope of the present invention,which is limited only by the claims appended hereto.

1. A personal fan comprising an interposed that is part of the stablebase, said stable base in the form of a cup or a mug; said cup or mugbase housing a power supply box; said power supply box having electricalcommunication through the hollow interposed arm to the motor housingthrough an on and off switch.
 2. The personal fan assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein cup holds liquids.
 3. The personal fan assembly asrecited in claim 2, wherein cup holds beverage cans.
 4. The personal fanassembly as recited in claim 3, wherein cup holds can with insulatedsleeve.
 5. The personal fan assembly in claim 1, wherein said beverageholder comprises a mug.
 6. The personal fan assembly in claim 5, whereinsaid mug has an insulated sleeve.
 7. The personal fan assembly in claim1, wherein the interposed arm is adjustable.
 8. The personal fanassembly in claim 1, wherein the motor housing on the interposed arm isadjustable.
 9. The personal fan assembly in claim 8, wherein the motorhousing can be in the form of any sporting ball.
 10. The personal fanassembly in claim 8, wherein the motor housing can be in the form of atire.
 11. The personal fan assembly in claim 1, wherein the cup portionis threaded for attachable an attachable mug.
 12. The personal fanassembly in claim 11, wherein the attachable threaded mug portionattaches to the cup.
 13. The personal fan assembly in claim 1, whereinthe on and off switch is a push button.
 14. The personal fan assembly inclaim 1, wherein the on and off switch is a variable switch.
 15. Thepersonal fan assembly in claim 1, wherein said fan comprises a pluralityof blades, each blade being constructed of a substantially flexiblematerial such that risk for injury with the user is eliminated.
 16. Thepersonal fan assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein cup has transistorradio.
 17. The personal fan assembly as recited in claim 1, whereinmotor housing comprises light emitting diodes.
 18. The personal fanassembly as recited in claim 1, wherein a push-button switch activates arecorded sound bite.
 19. The personal fan assembly as recited in claim1, wherein interposed arm may revolve around the cup to the oppositeside.